Ron Sexsmith with Kim Taylor
1/16/07
Schubas in Chicago
I adore Ron Sexsmith. His soft nature as he sings is nothing less than enchanting. Seeing him in the intimate venue of Schubas was a real treat not just because the sound there is always fantastic but also due to the fact that it felt almost like you were having a conversation with him and could really feel for the songs themselves.
In terms of the music, Ron could have easily played just by himself with an acoustic guitar and still gained my admiration but instead he chose to play with a great backing band which included a drummer, guitarist and bassist that helped make even the most sentimental songs have a bit more of a kick to them without losing those special ingredients only Ron Sexsmith knows how to provide.
In addition, there were so many great endearing gestures about him as between songs he would sip from a big white cup that seemed somehow to add to the night. In a way, when you know someone’s songs and material, what you might be really hoping to gain from a live show is how that musician is in real life. I know I’ve learned a great deal about Robyn Hitchcock just by seeing him play and observing his gestures and quirky nature. Stage banter with both musicians is also a plus. Ron conversed in a low key laid back manner, telling us he would make a better Charlie than Johnny Depp because he really liked chocolate. (Schubas had been playing Charlie and the Chocolate Fatory earlier in the evening.) While he played songs from throughout his career, he humbly told us a couple of times that he never really knew what the audience would want to hear.
Just getting close to him, you sensed this unassuming quietness about him. His looks almost resemble a Canadian Robert Smith but he has a very innocent boyishness look in his eyes. It makes you realize that perhaps no matter how old he gets, he’ll still retain that sort of young wonder. He ended his set perfectly with an encore performance that included “Secret Heart.”
Listen to Ron Sexsmith on myspace
Opener Kim Taylor proved to be a good match as she was overall just as soft around the edges as Ron. The waifish solo singer/songwriter might have also done some nice harmonizing with Ron Sexsmith if given the opportunity. You can tell she’d probably been raised on all of the great Neil Young and Joni Mitchell as a child but I’d like to see her to develop her own sound a bit more. In between songs, she talked about her coffee shop and large heaps of sugar while gazing out with her angelic looking eyes behind her acoustic guitar. Overall, it was an engaging set, though her best song was her cover of “Chocolate Jesus” by Tom Waits. She proved to fit well within the context of the evening, although not as perfect as a double bill with Feist may have been…
Listen to Kim Taylor on myspace
View more photos on flickr with Ron Sexsmith and Kim Taylor
click more to view a setlist and upcoming tour dates
Ron Sexsmith setlist:
Remaining Tour Dates:
Jan 24 2007 8:00P
Gypsy Tea Room Dallas, Texas
Jan 26 2007 8:00P
Trilogy Lounge Boulder, Colorado
Jan 27 2007 8:00P
Urban Lounge Salt Lake City, Utah
Jan 29 2007 8:00P
Tractor Tavern Seattle, Washington
Jan 30 2007 8:00P
Doug Fir Lounge Portland, Oregon
Feb 1 2007 8:00P
Great American Music Hall San Francisco, California
Feb 2 2007 8:00P
The Troubadour W. Hollywood, California
Mar 1 2007 8:00P
Mobile Civic Center Theater Mobile, Alabama
Mar 3 2007 8:00P
Atlanta Symphony Hall Atlanta, Georgia
Mar 4 2007 8:00P
Polk Theatre Nashville, Tennessee
Mar 6 2007 8:00P
Tampa Theatre Tampa, Florida
Mar 7 2007 8:00P
Parker Playhouse Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
Mar 9 2007 8:00P
Carolina Theatre Durham, North Carolina
Mar 10 2007 8:00P
The Orange Peel Asheville, North Carolina
Mar 11 2007 8:00P
Charleston Music Hall Charleston, South Carolina
Mar 13 2007 8:00P
McGlohon Theatre/Spirit Square Charlotte, North Carolina